Odysseus and Polyphemus
Odysseus escapes the Cyclops Polyphemus through cunning, but his pride reveals his identity and brings Poseidon's anger upon the voyage.
The Story
During the journey home, Odysseus and his men reached the land of the Cyclopes.
They entered a cave filled with food and livestock.
The cave belonged to Polyphemus, a giant Cyclops and son of Poseidon.
When Polyphemus returned, he sealed the entrance with a stone too heavy for the Greeks to move.
He then began killing and eating members of the crew.
Odysseus realised that simply killing the Cyclops would trap them inside forever.
They needed Polyphemus alive long enough to move the stone.
Odysseus devised a plan.
He offered the Cyclops strong wine.
When Polyphemus asked his name, Odysseus answered that he was called Nobody.
Once the Cyclops fell asleep, Odysseus and his companions drove a sharpened stake into his single eye.
Polyphemus screamed for help.
Other Cyclopes asked who was attacking him.
He answered: Nobody.
Believing that no enemy was present, they left him.
The next morning the blinded Cyclops moved the stone and allowed his sheep to leave.
Odysseus tied his men beneath the animals so that Polyphemus could not detect them by touch.
The Greeks escaped.
The plan had succeeded.
But Odysseus could not resist claiming the victory.
From his ship he shouted his real name to Polyphemus.
The Cyclops then called upon Poseidon to punish the man who had blinded him.
That moment of pride transformed a successful escape into a long divine feud.
Odysseus had defeated Polyphemus through intelligence.
He endangered his entire return through the need to be recognised for it.
Key Figures
Why It Matters
The Polyphemus episode captures the central tension in Odysseus' character: extraordinary intelligence combined with pride. His greatest talent saves him, while his desire for reputation creates the next disaster.
Traditions & Variations
The Homeric episode is the most famous form of the story, though Cyclops tales appear in wider Mediterranean folklore. Later retellings often emphasise the 'Nobody' trick as the defining moment.